Tag: Spencer Jones

Yankees MILB: Top 30 Prospects

Notes:

  1. I tend to rank prospects who have yet to make it to a full-season league lower than most. The attrition rate is too high, and that is true even for the best of the best.
  2. I try to keep the list simple. Other publications that are readily available will get into in-depth discussion. I don’t feel that repeating a scouting report adds much to my writing.
  3. I am constantly reading about prospects and looking at lists. That said, I rank based on how I feel about a prospect while recognizing the bias in knowing where others rank them.

With that said, here is my list of 30:

1. Jasson Dominguez, 22, CF
When you play as well as he did at Double-A, you can’t ignore it. He isn’t the blend of every HOF player that some were making him out to be – but that isn’t his fault.
2. Spencer Jones, 22, CF
Is he the lefty version of Aaron Judge? Is he a more athletic, lefty version of Richie Sexson? One should be satisfied with either outcome as his prospect volatility is high and neither outcome is guaranteed.
3. Chase Hampton, 22, RHP
The Yankees hung onto Hampton as they depleted their depth. Hampton is more about the total package than radar gun readings, but that package includes the potential for four plus MLB pitches. He wasn’t as dominant in Double-A as he was in High-A, so that should be monitored.
4. Austin Wells, 24, C
Were the Yankees right in keeping him behind the plate? He likely isn’t filling his trophy case with Gold Gloves, but he has Silver Slugger finalist potential.
5. Will Warren, 24, RHP
He is more about polish than upside at this point – but what’s wrong with that? He will make some starts for the Yankees in 2024.
6. Everson Pereira, 22, OF
Even his biggest supporters likely weren’t surprised by his less-than-stellar MLB debut. He screams of a prospect who needs time to marinate.
7. Roderick Arias, 19, SS
Questions about the hit tool have arisen, which scares you given what has happened with Alexander Vargas. That said, are we just going to ignore the 10.6% reduction in his K% between the DSL and FCL?
8. George Lombard Jr, 18, SS
His small sample in Low-A Tampa was encouraging. How far can he leap in 2024?
9. Agustin Ramirez, 22, C
He stalled in Double-A but moved through the system quickly for a catcher. Earned his 40-man roster slot.
10. Jared Serna, 21, 2B
I will keep him at 2B rather than labeling him as a UTIL, but the Yankees are starting to move him around. Serna has surprising pop in a smaller package but didn’t homer in 27 games after his promotion to High-A.
11. Brock Selvidge, 21, LHP
There could be some Jordan Montgomery in Selvidge once he puts the entire package together. He reduced his BB rate in 2023.
12. Jorbit Vivas, 23, 2B
Acquired in a deal with the Dodgers, the possibility exists that he will be in the 2B mix in 2025 if Gleyber Torres isn’t retained. One way to keep Juan Soto is by going with cheap youth elsewhere on the field. 2B may offer that opportunity in 2025.
13. Brando Mayea, 18, OF
Bonus baby OF hit well in his first taste of professional ball in 2023. All you ask for in a rookie league prospect is that they do enough to deserve a chance in a full-season league down the line.
14. Henry Lalane, 19, LHP
Unusual hype for a pitcher who hasn’t reached a full-season league yet. That both scares and intrigues me. My skepticism over rookie league pitchers deflates my ranking.
15. Luis Gil, 25, RHP
His arm is gold when he is healthy. I am being bullish here because I think his ceiling as an overpowering relief pitcher is still attainable.
16. Yoendrys Gomez, 24, RHP
The Yankees love Gomez so much that they have him on the 40-man despite a long injury history. His mileage is low and his upside remains tantalizing. This is his prove-it year.
17. Ben Rice, 25, C/1B/DH
Rice will have to hit as his future position is in question. I find myself constantly wondering where he fits in the Yankees’ puzzle despite his sweet left-handed power swing. With Anthony Rizzo, a potential free agent (the Yankees hold an option), can Rice factor into the 2025 lineup equation? Could that be another opportunity to go cheaper at one position to help retain Soto?
18. Carlos Lagrange, 20, RHP
He doesn’t get the hype Lalane does but don’t sleep on him. He is no longer a teenager, so it’s time to start moving.
19. Clayton Beeter, 25, RHP
My viewpoint that he is a mid-to-late inning reliever over a starter pulls his ranking down. Not as bullish as I am with Gil.
20. Roc Riggio, 21, 2B
If you want a prospect with some swagger, Riggio has it in spades. He’s going to be fun to watch as he marches up the system. His draft day story is a fun read for anyone who wishes to dig into it: The Yankees called him, offered him a slot bonus, he said “No,” and the Yankees drafted him anyway. He ended up getting an overslot bonus. That’s confidence, folks.
21. Kyle Carr, 21, LHP
Yankees fans have a weak spot for left-handed pitching prospects. I know this because I am included on that list. Supposedly has touched as high as 97 on the radar gun – and that was before entering the Yankees Pitching Factory.
22. Keiner Delgado, 20, 2B
Delgado should be done with posting video game numbers in the rookie leagues. In 101 rookie league games, he has 70 stolen bases, 104 runs scored, and a higher BB% than K%.
23. Enmanuel Tejeda, 19, 2B/SS
Raked in the DSL in 2022. Followed that up by raking in the FCL in 2023. How will he do in his first taste of a full-season league?
24. Brendan Beck, 25, RHP
If you want my “who isn’t being talked about that can make his debut in 2024?” candidate, it is Beck. He has to prove his polish is still there, however, as he is already Rule 5 eligible after 2024. Pitching injuries suck.
25. Luis Serna, 19, RHP
It’s harder for a Serna-type prospect to get noticed, as he isn’t going to overwhelm you on the radar gun. His floor intrigues me, even without the extreme ceiling. Essentially, he is a younger version of Beck.
26. Caleb Durbin, 24, 2B
A sneaky pickup from Atlanta in the Lucas Luetge deal, Durbin is all about contact and his ability to steal some bags. He seemed to be on his way to 50+ SB before his injury. Another kid to potentially put into the future 2B mix, though he isn’t your prototypical Yankees prospect.
27. Danny Watson/Jack Neely, 23, RHP
I figured I would lump these two tall relievers together. Either of them can make their big league debut in 2024, though Watson intrigues the most. He doesn’t throw hard, but his funky motion and size seem to befuddle minor-league bats. They weren’t on the spring training invite list, but they could still make spring training appearances, especially early on.
28. Christopher Familia, 23, OF
Familia has developed a cult following due to his 22 HR performance in only 68 games. Can he keep it up as he gets to Double-A?
29. Zach Messinger, 24, RHP
A product of the Yankees’ pitching factory, Messinger is a tall (6’6″) converted reliever with good strikeout results.
30. Jesus Rodriguez, 21, C/1B/3B/LF
One of my favorite 2023 prospects, Rodriguez was the only player in the system (amongst players with at least 300 plate appearances) to hit .300+ (.310/.399/.450; 134 wRC+). He struck out only 15.2% of the time. Most impressively to me is that he was able to sustain this performance despite being asked to play several positions, including catcher.

“Who isn’t here?”

Catchers:

Antonio Gomez was once, in my opinion, the best overall catching prospect in the system. His stock has fallen.
The Yankees added C Carlos Narvaez to the 40-man roster to prevent him from leaving as he was scheduled to be a minor league free agent. Never ignore when an organization does that, but I still don’t think he is quite Top 30 material. He could elevate to the important role as the third catcher, though Ben Rortvedt is currently in that spot.
Rafael Flores may be our next Kyle Higashioka. He needs plenty of time and will need to overachieve, but it’s not out of the question that he will someday carve out a career as an MLB backup.
Anthony Seigler and Josh Breaux look like fillers at this point. Seigler, a switch-hitter with athleticism, has a slightly higher upside. However, staying healthy has been a major issue.
Omar Martinez is a lost-in-the-shuffle prospect who put up impressive numbers in Low-A. The 22-year-old surprisingly wasn’t promoted at any point last season, but there was a logjam in front of him.
Edgleen Perez has enough prospect shine where Fangraphs has him ranked 14th in the system. He wasn’t even mentioned on the Prospects 1500 Top 50 list. So, where do I stand with him? Nowhere. You may expect someone who writes about an organization’s prospects to know everything, but I do not. I will just monitor him as he may not even make it to a full-season league until 2025.

Other position players

Double-A sluggers Tyler Hardman and T.J. Rumfield have MLB upside, but aren’t the types of prospects I would typically rank. I don’t think they have the tantalizing bat that Rice possesses, which is why Rice makes it and they don’t. Hardman strikes out too much but has 52 home runs and a .491 slugging percentage in 916 career plate appearances. Rumfield had a power surge in 2023.
SS Alexander Vargas is a frustrating prospect. He won’t need to be moved off of shortstop, but the bat is not developing.
SS Hans Montero bounced back in 2023, but he gets lost in the shuffle in this system. He may have to add some versatility to his game.
IF Ben Cowles was sent to the Arizona Fall League in 2023 and performed well. He should find himself in Somerset/Scranton for all of 2024.
OF John Cruz and Willy Montero finished 1-2 in the FCL in runs batted in. Cruz generated some buzz by being one of only three FCL players to hit double-digit home runs.
OF Anthony Hall played well in Tampa after he came back from his injury. His stint in Hudson Valley didn’t go well.
OF Jace Avina is a right-handed bat acquired from the Brewers in a trade for Jake Bauers this winter. I don’t know much about him, but his 2023 season suggests he has power to tap into though he needs to cut down on the strikeouts. He hit .233/.373/.442 in 99 games with 14 home runs, a 14% BB, and 29.6% K.
OF Elijah Dunham may be kicking himself. As the Yankees struggled to find outfielders in 2023, the door was open for Dunham to make his case for some at-bats. He had trouble getting anything going, however, and will once again look the part of a depth outfielder.
OF Brandon Lockridge has a 4th/5th outfielder profile, given his speed and ability to play defense. While he has shown off a little pop in his minor league career, one doesn’t expect the bat to carry him to become an MLB regular. He has been invited to spring training.
OF Aaron Palensky couldn’t sustain his insane numbers once he reached the upper minors. That said, he still drew plenty of walks and hit ten home runs in 71 Double-A/Triple-A games.
OF Gabriel Lara is light years away but I think he deserves a shoutout. One of the fastest players in professional baseball, Lara’s bat was better than I expected in his first professional season: .267/.401/.411 with a 15.4% BB and 16.5% K. He is a deep-deep-deep sleeper.

Pitchers

The next wave of pitchers down in the rookie leagues is promising, but it is still the rookie leagues. Included on that list are Jerson Alejandro (who, at 17, is 6’6″/255 pounds), Chalniel Arias, Sabier Marte, Jordarlin Mendoza, Angel Benitez, and Joshawn Lampson. It’s a fascinating array of arms, but please remember that if one of them becomes an MLB starter, that’s a win. That is how attrition works at the lowest levels in the minors. I tend to pay closer attention to pitchers like these once they get to a full-season league – that is if they get there.

RHP Justin Lange shows flashes of brilliance and flashes of frustration. Many pitchers wish they had his arm talent – but wouldn’t want to inherit his command. I would be intrigued to see what he can do as an “air it out” reliever.
LHP Edgar Barclay has a chance to make his MLB debut in 2024. I expected a team to grab him in the Rule 5 to at least give him a long spring training look. His ability to go multiple innings gives him value as a 27th man during a doubleheader or as someone you bring up when the bullpen is exhausted.
LHP Matt Krook continues to hang onto his 40-man roster spot. If he continues to stick through spring training, you will see him in 2024. Matt Blake loves his sinker ballers, and Krook generates a lot of ground balls. His first MLB audition didn’t go as planned.
RHP Bailey Dees could have been lumped in with Watson/Neely above, but I think they have more upside.
RHP Sean Hermann is only 20 and has a game of High-A experience. His 57.2% GB rate ranked 6th amongst all minor leaguers with 100+ IP.
RHP Trystan Vrieling has yet to make his organizational debut but was able to start five games (only 10.2 IP) in the Arizona Fall League.
RHP Sean Boyle is 27 years old. His 2023 season was a lost one, as he made only nine starts. He could factor in as depth if he is good in 2024. I have no idea.

Other relief-type prospects to watch include LHP Lisandro Santos, RHP Harrison Cohen, LHP Ryan Anderson, RHP Alex Mauricio, RHP Luis Velasquez, LHP Clay Aguilar, and RHP Justin Wilson

“Where are X, Y, Z?”

I try to be comprehensive with my minor league reporting but that doesn’t mean I am perfect (far from it, if you want me to be honest). If a favorite prospect of yours isn’t listed, you can chalk it up to me not being able to write about everyone. Feel free to bookmark this and call me a fool if a pitcher I didn’t list strikes out 35% of the batters he faces this year or a position player swats 25 home runs.

The Bottom Line

The Yankees are consistently amongst the top ten minor league systems in baseball according to the “experts,” despite trading away a load of upper-level depth in recent times.

“It’s the Yankees, so of course they will be overhyped!” Maybe there is some truth to this at some level. However, where is the incentive to do that? Why would Keith Law, who doesn’t even have Spencer Jones in his Top 100, place the Yankees in his top ten for hype reasons alone? It makes no sense. I would argue that it is equally appealing to rank the Yankees low on a list, as that will drive major discussion and engagement. In other words, stop overanalyzing everything and accept that you are a fan of an organization that has a desirable farm system.

Yankees: A Look at the Non-Roster Invitees

A quick look at the players invited to spring training.

Quick reminder: Players on the 40-man roster will not be included in spring training invites. One doesn’t need to ask where Agustin Ramirez is, for example.

RHP Nick Burdi – The 31-year-old Burdi has 19 games of MLB experience with the Pirates and Cubs, pitching to a 9.39 ERA (3.34 FIP). His very small sample size shows an incredible strikeout rate (36%) to go along with an elevated walk (13.3%) and flyball rate (55.3%).
RHP Yerry De Los Santos – Out of the Pirates organization, the 26-year-old pitched to a 3.33 ERA (4.04 FIP) in 22 games in 2023. The Yankees will love his groundball rate (54.9%/0.37 HR/9) though he doesn’t miss many bats. He throws his 95 MPH sinker often, but I bet Matt Blake will ask him to throw it even more.
RHP Joey Gerber – An 8th round pick out of Illinois back in 2018, Gerber has dealt with various injuries and has pitched in only one organized game since making his MLB debut in 2020. The Yankees signed Gerber to a 3-year minor league deal in 2022, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
RHP Chase Hampton – Likely the top pitching prospect in the system, Hampton dazzled in High-A Hudson Valley in 2023 (2.68 ERA (2.86 FIP) with a 40.5% K rate). His numbers predictably dipped for Somerset (4.37 ERA/3.80 FIP/27.4% K). He won’t make the team this spring, but a mid-season debut shouldn’t be ruled out.
RHP Dennis Santana – Santana has made MLB appearances in each of the last six seasons, most recently with the Mets in 2023. His velocity is what allows him to keep cashing paychecks, but the results are far from spectacular (5.17 career ERA/4.26 FIP). I wouldn’t be surprised if people are dazzled by him in spring training, but his best role will be as Triple-A emergency depth.
RHP Duane Underwood Jr. – Like Santana, Underwood has appeared in games from 2018-2023. Between 2021-2022, he appeared in 94 games with the Pirates, compiling a 4.36 ERA (3.68 FIP), 45.7% GB, and 21.1% K. He was a second round pick in 2012 and had some prospect pedigree once upon a time.
RHP Art Warren – Like Gerber, Warren was signed to a multi-year minor league deal as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in 39 games for the 2022 Reds, compiling a 6.50 ERA (5.06 FIP) over 36 innings.
RHP Will Warren – The more familiar Warren should make his MLB debut in 2024, perhaps as early as Opening Day (though I wouldn’t count on that). The 8th round pick in 2021 surged down the stretch for Triple-A Scranton to finish with a 3.61 ERA over 99.2 innings with a 25.6% K and 52.7% GB. If there was ever a modern Yankees pitcher profile, that would be it.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz – Misiewicz pitched for three teams in 2023, ending his season with the Yankees. He re-signed this winter to a minor league deal and figures to provide Triple-A depth.
LHP Oddanier Mosqueda – Mosqueda (Bob Sheppard would have had a blast pronouncing his name) has yet to appear in an MLB game. A long-time Red Sox prospect, he pitched in 196 games as a member of the organization, compiling a 4.21 ERA over 331.2 IP with a 410/167 K/BB. He will be the left-handed Garrett Whitlock. OK, maybe not.
LHP Tanner Tully – Tully figures to have the same role he had last year. He made 19 starts for Scranton, compiling a 5.64 ERA over 91 innings. Every minor league system needs a veteran to eat some innings. Tully did fulfill his MLB dream when he had a cup of coffee for the 2022 Guardians.
C Josh Breaux – The power prospect has 67 homers and a .461 SLG in 315 minor league games. The rest of his game has not developed, however.
C J.C. Escarra – The 28-year-old hasn’t played an inning of affiliated ball since 2021. The long-time Orioles prospect toiled around in the Independent leagues in 2023, hitting .267/.362/.422 in 93 games.
C Ben Rice – Rice has certainly turned heads with his left-handed power swing that appears to be perfect for Yankee Stadium. His future position is the big question mark. For those who have been around for a while, there could be some Brian Daubach in his profile. Daubach didn’t break into the big leagues until he was 26. From 1999-2002 (ages 27-30), he hit .266/.342/.492 (111 OPS+) as a first baseman for the Boston Red Sox.
C Luis Torrens – Welcome back! Torrens was a hot catching prospect years ago for the Yankees, until a shoulder injury knocked him out of commission for a year. In 2016, he returned to hit .230/.348/.317 in 40 High-A games. The Yankees felt safe in not protecting him in the Rule 5, only for the Padres to gobble him up. His best MLB season was back in 2021, when he hit .243/.299/.431 (101 wRC+) with 15 home runs for the Seattle Mariners. Depending on further transactions, Torrens could be as high as the #3 catcher on the depth chart, though Ben Rortvedt and Carlos Narvaez both occupy 40-man roster spots.
INF Jeter Downs – A story made for Hollywood (or at least an afterschool special), Downs was one of the prospects sent to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts trade. Once a Top 100 prospect in all of baseball, Downs has not lived up to his potential and figures to only be depth for the 2024 Yankees.
IF Caleb Durbin – Acquired from the Braves for Lucas Luetge, Durbin became a bit of a prospect celebrity early in 2023 (before an injury robbed him of several weeks of playing time). His ability to make contact (6.2% K) and steal bases (36) likely appealed to old men like me who once watched a sport that was once abundant in low strikeout rates and base stealers. Not your prototypical Yankees prospect (there is not going to be power to tap into), Durbin has the ability to make it to MLB in 2024.
IF Jose Rojas – And you thought the Yankees didn’t sign KBO players! Rojas spent 2023 in Korea, where he hit .253/.345/.474 (126 wRC+) over 464 plate appearances. The 30-year-old has 83 games of MLB experience, all with the Dodgers in 2021-2022. He has experience at every position other than catcher, shortstop, and center field (the three most important ones!)
IF T.J. Rumfield – Acquired from the Phillies before the 2022 season, Rumfield experienced a power surge in 2023 for Somerset. Before 2023, he hit four home runs in 84 career games. In 2023, he hit 17 in 82 games while in Somerset. As a left-handed bat, that grabs the attention of Yankees fans.
IF Kevin Smith – If you want playing time, signing with Oakland is not a bad idea. Smith appeared in 96 games for the 2022-2023 Athletics, hitting a meager .182/.218/.314 with seven homers. He plays shortstop and third base.
IF Josh VanMeter – VanMeter has a decent MLB sample size, appearing in 300 games with three different teams between 2019-2022. In those games, he has compiled a .206/.293/.347 line with 19 homers, 79 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. Positional versatility is where he shines, though he doesn’t play shortstop or center field.
OF Greg Allen – The Yankees seemingly love Allen. He made MLB appearances for them in 2022 and 2023. The Yankees went as far as sending a prospect to the Red Sox last year to reacquire his services. Allen’s entire game revolves around speed and his ability to play CF, which is why he will continue to sign contracts.
OF Luis Gonzalez – No, not that Luis Gonzalez. This Luis Gonzalez is a 28-year-old lefthanded bat with 107 games of MLB experience (Giants, White Sox). His MLB stat line isn’t so bad for a backup: .255/.328/.363 (99 wRC+) and  he can handle all three outfield positions though you likely wouldn’t want to overexpose him in center field.
OF Oscar Gonzalez – Claimed off waivers, earlier this winter, Gonzalez was sent back through waivers by the Yankees only to be unclaimed. Gonzalez looked like a legitimate MLB outfielder in 2022, when he hit .296/.327/.461 in 91 games for the Guardians. He didn’t come close to repeating that in 2023 (49 wRC+ in 54 games!). The Yankees are hoping for some magic.
OF Spencer Jones – Jones is one of the Yankees most highly-regarded prospects – a few sites even have him ranked first overall in the system. A big kid with big potential power, Jones will need to tap into that power while continuing to reduce his strikeout rates. Simply put, there is a lot of volatility in his profile. One can see a future All-Star while others may see someone who won’t be able to put the entire package together. His 2024 season will be fascinating.
OF Brandon Lockridge – If it feels as if Lockridge has been around forever, you aren’t wrong. He has appeared in 422 minor league games for the Yankees, sporting a .263/.334/.420 line with 43 homers and 101 stolen bases. Known for his speed and ability to play center field, I think Lockridge has some Tim Locastro in his profile. If that makes you laugh, remember that Locastro has played in 290 major league games.

Yankees MILB 9/17: Will Warren Ks 10

News:

I have nothing interesting to report.

Scranton (70-72; 36-32 in the second half) (Defeated Buffalo, 7-6, in 12 innings. They still have one week left in the season)

C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, 2 BB
RF Franchy Cordero: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB (8)
3B Andres Chaparro: 0-for-5, SF, RBI, RS, 2 K
Chaparro is up to 85 RBI. 15 RBI in six games is a tall task if he wants to reach 100, but his season will go down as a productive one.
1B Josh Breaux: 2-for-5, RS
DH Jake Lamb: 1-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
SS Jesus Bastidas: 3-for-5, 2 2B (13), RBI, RS, 2 K
I like utility types that show some pop, which is why I have bullish tendencies with Bastidas. He won’t be a star – he may be nothing more than an up-and-down guy. But I do think he makes MLB.
LF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-3, HR (1), 3 RBI, RS, 2 BB
Palensky’s HR in the top of the 9th tied the score at 4. He has 21 home runs between here, Somerset, and Hudson Valley.
2B Wilmer Difo: 0-for-5, K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 2 RS, BB, K, CS (1)

RHP Frankie Montas: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Montas featured all four of his pitches, maxing out at 96.1 MPH. While he is intriguing and you can never have enough pitching, I think they move on from Montas this winter. They have young arms who are ready to contribute + they will seemingly be heavily involved in negotiations for Japanese RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
RHP Will Warren: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K
Sometimes, I worry when a starter follows up a rehabbing player – but it certainly didn’t impact Warren today. This is his first career double-digit strikeout performance. In September, the 24-year-old is dominating, pitching to a 0.38 ERA in 23.2 IP (10 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 BB, 29 K). Overall, for Scranton, he owns a 3.71 ERA in 94.2 IP (78 H, 49 R, 39 ER, 45 BB, 103 K). Unless they bring him up to the big leagues now, he is in line for one more start this season.
RHP Michael Gomez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Matt Bowman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Zach Greene : 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Aaron McGarity: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
LHP Clay Aguilar (W, 1-1): 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Aguilar appears to be a slider/change-up heavy reliever.

Somerset (84-53; 42-27 in the second half) (Closed out their regular season with a 7-1 win over New Hampshire. Their playoff journey starts on Tuesday against Binghamton)

SS Trey Sweeney: 2-for-5, 2B (20), 2 RS, K
.252/.367/.411 in 472 PA (20 doubles, 2 triples, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 67 R, 65 BB, 90 K, 20-for-27 SB). The injury sucked but 472 plate appearances is more than enough for evaluation.
DH Ben Rice: 2-for-4, HR (16), 3 RBI, RS, BB
Between all levels, Rice finishes (assuming he doesn’t go to Scranton) his regular season with 20 homers, 68 RBI, and 62 runs scored in only 73 games.
CF Spencer Jones: 3-for-5, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, K
Jones compiles three straight multi-hit games to close out his regular season. In his last ten games, he went 15-for-42 (.357) to help him finish his Somerset campaign at .261 with a .739 OPS.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-5, 2B (7), K
Why don’t I worry much about Ramirez’s slump after coming to this level? He struck out 19.4% of the time after his promotion. Overall, he struck out 17.3% of the time this season. Yes, it spiked a bit for Somerset but it is not outrageous – he seemingly was not overwhelmed here. 
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2B (14), 2 K
  1B Mickey Gasper:  0-for-1, K
2B Caleb Durbin: 2-for-5, RS
Durbin hit .304/.395/.427 with 36 stolen bases in 69 games between here and Hudson Valley.
RF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, 2B (13), RBI, RS, K, SB (23)
Dunham has 25 doubles and 35 stolen bases between here and Scranton. It has to be at least somewhat frustrating that he wasn’t able to get off to a strong start in 2023, as the Yankees could have deployed him in their much-depleted OF at some point.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-4, K
LF Jeisson Rosario: 1-for-2, RS, 2 BB, K

RHP Matt Sauer: (W, 6-4)  6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, HR
For Somerset: 3.42 ERA in 68.1 IP (49 H, 27 R, 26 ER, 11 HR, 29 BB, 83 K). He had a strong finish and I don’t know if he will slip through the Rule 5 again. 
RHP Jack Neely: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
For Somerset: 2.55 ERA in 17.2 IP (12 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 4 HR, 3 BB, 26 K). Overall, Neely put together a 100/20 in 66.1 IP between here and Hudson Valley. 
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (70-62; 31-35 in the second half)  (Lost to Greenville, 2-0, in Game 1. They will once again need to sweep two games. The difference this time is that they are going on the road instead of heading home. In Game 1, a bout of wildness by a pair of relievers cost them – Greenville scored two runs without the benefit of a hit in the 6th)

3B Ben Cowles: 0-for-3, HBP, K
2B Jared Serna: 1-for-4
DH Christopher Familia: 1-for-4, K
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-4
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-3, 3 K
C Rafael Flores: 0-for-2, BB
RF Anthony Hall: 0-for-3, K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-1, 2 BB, K
As you can see, offense was a big issue today…

RHP Jackson Fristoe: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
A nice High-A debut for Fristoe. Yes, the minor league playoffs are built differently (LOL) – a youngster making his level debut in Game 1 of the championship series is likely not all that uncommon. Anyway, Fristoe’s calling card is his ability to throw the baseball fast. We don’t have Savant data for today, but one has to be impressed with the stat line.
RHP Baron Stuart: (L, 0-1) 1 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
RHP Sebastian Keane: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
RHP Osiel Rodriguez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Rodriguez is throwing well as the season comes to a close…
RHP Luis Arejula: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Arejula’s High-A debut. 

Tampa (61-69; 30-34 in the second half) 

Their season is over.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/16: Grant Richardson Homers

News:

I have nothing interesting to report.

Scranton (69-72; 35-32 in the second half) (Lost to Buffalo, 3-2, in ten innings)

SS Wilmer Difo: 1-for-4, 2B (9), RS, BB, K
DH Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
Between here and Somerset: .244/.368/.399 in 383 PA (16 doubles, 11 HR, 39 RBI, 45 R, 57 BB (14.9%), 103 K (26.9%), 6-for-9 SB)
RF Franchy Cordero: 0-for-3, BB
1B Andres Chaparro: 1-for-4, RBI
.249/.337/.445 in 570 PA (21 doubles, 2 triples, 24 HR, 84 RBI, 77 R, 64 BB, 119 K, 4-for-4 SB)
2B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-4, K
3B Jake Lamb: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K
C Josh Breaux: 1-for-3, HR (2), RBI, RS, HBP
Breaux has ten home runs overall this season. He has reached double digits in HR in four straight seasons. Nobody ever denied his power potential.
LF Aaron Palensky: 1-for-2, BB, HBP, K, SB (1), CS (1)
Palensky earns his first Triple-A hit and stolen base. Overall, he has 22 stolen bases in 24 attempts.
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 3 K
Medina is 0-for-15 since his promotion – even in a league filled with offense, it should come as no surprise that a kid who spent the year either injured or in Low-A would struggle after being placed in Triple-A.

LHP Edgar Barclay: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
At this level: 6.23 ERA (39 IP, 39 H, 30 R, 27 ER, 11 HR, 29 BB, 41 K).
Other than two curveballs, Barclay was a two-pitch pitcher today. He threw 54% changeups and 43% 4-seamers. He averaged 89.6 with that pitch, topping out at 92.5. It is not about velocity with Barclay – and the fact remains that talent evaluation is tough at Triple-A. Has MLB considered fixing this issue? While some of the ballparks in Triple-A are going to produce more offense because of where they are located, there is no reason for the entire league to be souped up. 
LHP Josh Maciejewski: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
LHP Matt Krook: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
0.84 ERA (32 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 23 BB, 53 K). His BABIP is .167 – frankly, I thought it may even be lower than that. 
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo (L, 0-2): 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Somerset (83-53; 41-27 in the second half) (Defeated New Hampshire, 8-3)

SS Trey Sweeney: 2-for-3, RS, 2 BB, 2 SB (20)
Sweeney is 51-for-61 stealing bases over the past two seasons (210 games) and is hitting .250 with a .774 OPS this season. Entering tonight, he owned a rather impressive 8.7% Swinging Strike. That is 4th best among Eastern League qualifiers.
C Ben Rice: 1-for-4, 2B (13), 2 RS, BB
Rice has 29 extra-base hits (13 doubles, 1 triple, 15 HR) in 47 games for Somerset.
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, 2B (1), RBI, 2 K, SB (8; 43rd overall), CS (3)
Jones swatted 28 doubles in 100 games for Hudson Valley. This is his first double since his promotion (16 games).
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, SF, 2 RBI
It has been a tough go for Rumfield after his rehab stint, as he is 6-for-34 with zero home runs and five runs batted in. Before his injury, he swatted 17 homers in 71 games.
DH Caleb Durbin: 1-for-5, RBI
RF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-4, HR (10), RBI, RS, BB
Dunham has 16 HR and 34 stolen bases between Somerset and Scranton. He is Rule 5 eligible and could be selected – he offers value as a #4-#5 outfielder potentially. 
2B Anthony Seigler: 2-for-4, HR (5), RBI, 2 RS
Unless something crazy happens tomorrow, Seigler will walk more than he strikes out for the second year in a row. Last year, the ratio was 91/82. This year, the ratio is 53/48.
LF Grant Richardson: 1-for-4, HR (5), 2 RBI, RS, K
Richardson has five home runs in 15 games since his promotion (13 HR in 77 games for Hudson Valley). The left-handed hitting prospect has shown some pop and the Yankees have another year of evaluation as he isn’t Rule 5 eligible until after 2024.
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-4, RS

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
Gomez finishes the regular season with a 3.58 ERA in 65.1 IP (47 H, 27 R, 25 ER, 6 HR, 37 BB, 78 K). Gomez has been on the 40-man roster for a while now but might be out of minor league options next spring (sometimes, a player “earns” an extra option so we’ll see if that applies to Gomez). If the clock has run out, the Yankees have a talented arm with an injury history to make a decision on. Unlike Estevan Florial last spring, Gomez will not pass through waivers if the Yankees attempted to do that. 
RHP Carlos Gomez (W, 2-1): 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER,, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
At this level: 3.86 ERA in 14 IP (8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 9 BB, 17 K). Overall, the 25-year-old owns an 81/40 K/BB over 63 IP. He was signed all the way back in 2018.
RHP Anderson Munoz: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
RHP Bailey Dees: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Since promotion: 21 IP, 17 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 12 BB, 18 K

Hudson Valley (70-62; 31-35 in the second half) 

Their championship series against Greenville starts tomorrow. It is a best-of-3 and Greenville has home field advantage (Game 1 in Hudson Valley, final two games in Greenville)

Tampa (61-69; 30-34 in the second half) 

Their season is over.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/15: Richard Fitts Ks 11

News:

I have nothing interesting to report.

Scranton (69-71; 35-31 in the second half) (Defeated Buffalo, 4-2)

RF Franchy Cordero: 1-for-3, 2B (13), 3 RBI, BB, K
3B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
DH Andres Chaparro: 0-for-4, 2 K
1B Jake Lamb: 2-for-4, HR (5), RBI, RS
SS Jesus Bastidas: 0-for-2, RS, BB, HBP
LF Aaron Palensky: 0-for-3, RS, HBP, 3 K
Palensky’s Triple-A debut.
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-4, 2 K
2B Wilmer Difo: 0-for-1, RS, 2 BB, K, 2 SB (22)

RHP Mitch Spence: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
4.50 ERA (156 IP, 155 H, 86 R, 78 ER, 28 HR, 50 BB, 150 K)
RHP Zac Houston: (W, 3-1) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Aaron McGarity (S, 4): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Somerset (82-53; 40-27 in the second half) (Defeated New Hampshire, 3-1)

SS Trey Sweeney: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
1B Ben Rice: 0-for-3, 2 HBP, K, CS (3)
Rice has 11 HBP in 71 games. He is hitting .324/.396/.638 in 212 PA at this level.
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-3, RS, BB, 2 K
At this level: .211/.276/.309 in 30 games. I stand by what I said when he was first promoted: I am not concerned about him struggling here. 
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, RS, K, SB (7)
Jones has 47 extra-base hits (28 doubles, 4 triples, 15 HR) and 42 stolen bases (53 attempts). Tonight’s HR was hit off of LHP Ricky Tiedemann, the top prospect in the Blue Jays system (Pipeline). No, he won’t be in the mix for the CF job in 2024 with Jasson Dominguez out – but a hot first half will get people talking.
DH Mickey Gasper: 0-for-3, RS, BB, K, SB (8)
LF Jeisson Rosario: 0-for-3, BB
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Max Burt: 1-for-2, BB, 3 SB (21)
Burt sets personal bests for both stolen bases in a game and in a season.

RHP Richard Fitts: (W, 11-5) 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 11 K
Fitts sets a new personal best for strikeouts in a game (he struck out exactly ten batters three times this season). This is probably his last regular season start of 2023 unless they give him one up in Scranton. If it is, he posted a 3.48 ERA in 152.2 IP with a 163/43 K/BB. I would say that is something to build on and Fitts should be in the 2024 mix at some point.
RHP Tanner Myatt: (S, 7)  2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR

Hudson Valley (70-62; 31-35 in the second half)  (Defeated Jersey Shore, 3-2, to win the best-of-3 series. They will play Greenville (BOS) in the championship series. It starts on Sunday)

3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-3, 3B (1), RBI, RS, BB
A nice night for Cowles, who hit .254/.356/.393 in 444 regular-season plate appearances. He stole 23 bases in 27 attempts.
2B Jared Serna: 0-for-3, BB, CS (1)
LF Jesus Rodriguez: 0-for-3, BB
Rodriguez went 4-for-10 with two walks and only one strikeout in the series.
DH Christopher Familia: 0-for-4, K
1B Spencer Henson: 0-for-4, 3 K
C Rafael Flores: 2-for-3, 2 2B (2), 2 RS, K
Flores went 4-for-8 with two doubles and three walks in the series.
RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-3, 2 K
SS Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, SF, RBI
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-1, 2 BB

LHP Brock Selvidge: (W, 1-0) 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Selvidge pitched to a 3.45 ERA in 127.2 IP during the regular season between Tampa and Hudson Valley (116 H, 56 R, 49 ER, 5 HR, 35 BB, 137 K). He compiled a 25.5% K and 6.5% BB. In 2022, his BB% was 9.4. He is developing the way you would want him to develop and there isn’t a long line of left-handed starting pitching prospects in the system.
RHP Cole Ayers: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: (S, 1)  1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
In a key moment in the 8th, Gilbert came out of the bullpen with the bases loaded and one out. He promptly struck out back-to-back hitters.

Tampa (61-69; 30-34 in the second half) 

Their season is over.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/13: Trey Sweeney: 3 Hits

News:

OF Aaron Palensky is now a member of the Scranton Railriders.

Palensky has been the organization’s leader in wRC+ for most of the season (especially after Ben Rice‘s injury). He hit .252/.369/.531 in 369 plate appearances between Hudson Valley and Somerset with 21 stolen bases in 22 attempts.

That said, most of the good stuff happened in Hudson Valley, where he hit an astonishing .352/.434/.744 (209 wRC+) in 143 plate appearances. For Somerset, the line was .183/.327/.383 (98 wRC+) in 226 PA. The walk rate was still strong and his K% was similar. One major difference? His BABIP was .405 in Hudson Valley and .202 for Somerset.

Palensky is Rule 5 eligible. I don’t think he will be drafted, but you never know.

Scranton also received C Edinson Duran from all the way down in the FCL. This is likely a “warm body” kind of transaction. The 21-year-old hit .314/.405/.457 (130 wRC+) in 121 plate appearances with a pair of home runs and 17 runs batted in.

OF Brandon Lockridge, who stole 40 bases between Somerset and Scranton this season, was placed on the 7-day IL today. If this is the end of his campaign, he may have played his last game as a member of the Yankees organization. I think Lockridge will make MLB as I can see him as a Tim Locastro type. That’s not a bad outcome, folks.

Scranton (68-70; 34-30 in the second half) (Lost to Buffalo, 9-1)

“Why aren’t you updating the standings anymore?”
Durham (41-23) put together an extended period of exceptional play while Scranton started to fall back. If they somehow make it close again, I’ll update this space again. It doesn’t seem likely.

3B Jake Lamb: 1-for-3, BB
Jake Lamb leading off games in mid-September. That is what happens when the prospects are either in MLB or injured.
C Carlos Narvaez: 2-for-4, 2 K
Narvaez is 9-for-29 (.310) in September with three doubles and a homer.
1B Andres Chaparro: 0-for-3, BB
RF Franchy Cordero: 0-for-4, 3 K
DH-2B Jamie Westbrook: 0-for-3, BB, K
LF Michael Hermosillo: 1-for-3, BB, K, SB (8), CS (2)
SS-P Jesus Bastidas: 1-for-4, HR (10), RBI, RS, 2 K
Bastidas has 13 HR in 109 games between here and Somerset. 
2B-SS Wilmer Difo: 0-for-3, 2 K
CF Nelson Medina: 0-for-2, BB, K, SB (1)
Medina’s first Triple-A start. He was 8-for-11 stealing bases down in Tampa.

RHP Zach Greene: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Recently promoted, the 28-year-old spent the majority of his season in Somerset. The Yankees purchased him from Lancaster (Independent) on June 27th.
LHP Matt Krook: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K
LHP Josh Maciejewski: (L, 3-1) 1.1 IP, 4 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
Entering tonight, Maciejewski had allowed eight earned runs in 26 games (38.2 IP).
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jesus Bastidas: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
His first career pitching performance is a clean one…

Somerset (80-53; 38-27 in the second half) (Lost to New Hampshire, 5-1)

SS Trey Sweeney: 3-for-5, 2B (19), SB (18)
Sweeney has seven 3-hit games this season. He is hitting .249 with a .773 OPS in 457 PA (19 doubles, 2 triples, 13 HR, 49 RBI, 64 R, 62 BB, 87 K, 18-for-25 SB). I would assume he was on his way to Scranton at some point before his injury – maybe they still get his feet wet, but it really is not a big deal. May as well just let him play here through the playoffs.
C Ben Rice: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 3 K
LF Elijah Dunham: 1-for-5, 3 K
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-5, K, SB (6)
Jones’ 41st stolen base between here and Hudson Valley. Unless Lockridge gets back, Jones is going to lead the organization in stolen bases this season.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 K
RF Jeisson Rosario: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K
2B Mickey Gasper: 0-for-4, K
DH Grant Richardson: 2-for-3, 2B (1), BB, K, SB (5)
Richardson has 16 homers and 19 stolen bases between here and Hudson Valley. He is now 15-for-41 since his promotion.
3B Max Burt: 0-for-4, K

RHP Blane Abeyta: (L, 8-8)  4.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
5.67 ERA (127 IP, 130 H, 83 R, 80 ER, 18 HR, 51 BB, 126 K)
RHP Bailey Dees: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR
Since promotion: 4.50 ERA (20 IP, 16 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 1 HR, 11 BB, 18 K). Overall, Dees has a 77/26 K/BB over 61.2 IP.
RHP Anderson Munoz: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Munoz started 2023 at this level (two games before going down to injury). He dominated during his stay in Hudson Valley (12.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 18 K)

Hudson Valley (70-62; 31-35 in the second half)  

They lost to Jersey Shore last night in Game 1. The series continues tomorrow. The Renegades must win the next two games to advance.

Tampa (61-69; 30-34 in the second half) 

Their season is over.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/9: Jesus Rodriguez Hits a Slam

News:

The Yankees sent RHP Ron Marinaccio and LHP Matt Krook back down to Scranton after today’s game, meaning that two new pitchers are on their way to the Bronx. People are hoping for RHP Clayton Beeter, but he pitched on Friday. It is possible they will bring up a temporary filler before giving Beeter a roster spot once rested.  RHP Will Warren is another popular pick – he last pitched on September 7th, so he wouldn’t be available tomorrow. RHP Matt Bowman is a veteran on the 40-man – they could certainly bring him up as a warm body until someone else is ready. The same is true for LHP Anthony Misiewicz. The “Big 3” (literally) relievers down in Somerset (Bailey Dees, Danny Watson, Jack Neely) would be intriguing but I am not sure if they are going down that path. RHP Chase Hampton is shut down for the season and RHP Richard Fitts and Drew Thorpe appear to be winding down (Thorpe more than Fitts).

I guess what I am saying is that I have no idea who the two mystery pitchers will be. If it is any of the veterans listed above, it will likely (hopefully) be temporary until others are rested.

Scranton (66-68; 32-28 in the second half) (Lost to Columbus, 5-3)

LF Estevan Florial: 1-for-4, HR (26), RBI, RS, K
Florial’s HR was a lead-off blast. He ties Tyler Hardman (who has been out for a while) for the organization’s home run lead. Scranton’s season continues for a few more weeks (while everyone else ends tomorrow), so he has a good chance to win the HR title.
2B Jamie Westbrook: 2-for-4, RS, SB (6)
C Carlos Narvaez: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Andres Chaparro: 2-for-4, RS, 2 K
.252/.336/.457 in 544 PA (21 doubles, 2 triples, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 76 R, 60 BB, 113 K). 
1B Mike Lamb: 1-for-2, BB, HBP
DH Rodolfo Duran: 0-for-3, RBI, HBP
RF Michael Hermosillo: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-4, K, CS (3)
SS Jesus Bastidas: 1-for-4, 3 K

RHP Mitch Spence: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
4.56 ERA (150 IP, 151 H, 84 R, 76 ER, 28 HR, 47 BB, 144 K). Imagine having to throw 150 innings in this league – poor kid. But he certainly has held his own.
RHP Zach Greene (L, 2-1): 1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HR

Somerset (78-52; 36-26 in the second half) (Lost to Erie, 5-3)

CF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K, SB (22)
Dunham is up to 34 stolen bases in 41 attempts between here and Scranton.
DH Spencer Jones: 2-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K, SB (5), CS (2)
Jones joins Brandon Lockridge and Jasson Dominguez in the organization’s 40 SB club (all three have exactly 40 stolen bases in the minors. Dominguez added an MLB stolen base today). Anyway, Jones has three multi-hit games in his last four games as he tries to finish his season strongly.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, BB, SB (8)
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-4, 2B (5), RS, BB, K, SB (3)
Ramirez is at .216/.278/.310 in 126 PA since his promotion.
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-4, 2 K
RF Grant Richardson: 0-for-2, BB, HBP, SB (2)
LF Jeisson Rosario: 2-for-4, 2B (17), RBI, RS, SB (11)
SS Max Burt: 1-for-4, 2B (11), RBI, K
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 0-for-3, BB, K

RHP Yoendrys Gomez: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
3.69 ERA (61 IP, 46 H, 27 R, 25 ER, 6 HR, 33 BB, 71 K). Gomez’s issue has always been injuries – he has been with the organization since 2017, yet this year’s 61 innings are a new personal best. A crucial spring training is upcoming in 2024.
RHP Tanner Myatt: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
RHP Carlos Gomez: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
RHP Mickey Gasper: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Gasper (a C/1B who has played some 2B this year) with his third professional pitching appearance (he had two in 2019)

Hudson Valley (70-61; 31-34 in the second half)  (Split a doubleheader with Jersey Shore)

Game 1 (Won, 2-0)

SS Jared Serna: 0-for-3, K
2B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-2, BB, K
DH Christopher Familia: 0-for-3, 2 K
Between Tampa and Hudson Valley: .307/.378/.617 in 294 PA (11 doubles, 2 triples, 22 HR, 63 RBI, 57 R, 25 BB, 61 K). He was insane for Tampa but has hit well enough here to keep your attention.
C Antonio Gomez: 0-for-2, RS, BB, K
.230/.286/.322 in 349 PA (18 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 32 RBI, 32 R, 21 BB, 111 K). It wasn’t long ago when Gomez was their most tantalizing catching prospect. Some catchers are late bloomers, so maybe he can find some discover some offense in his game.
1B Spencer Henson: 1-for-3, RS
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-2, BB, K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-3, RBI, K
3B Marcos Cabrera: 1-for-3, RBI
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-1, BB

RHP Cam Schlittler (W, 1-0): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Schlittler’s first professional win. Congrats!  This season (professional debut), he pitched to a 4.11 ERA in 46 innings between the FCL/Tampa/Hudson Valley with a 51/20 K/BB. He is a 6’6″ 22-year-old out of Northeastern. 
RHP Anderson Munoz: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
At this level: 12.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 18 K. 
RHP Cole Ayers (S, 1): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Since promotion: 18 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 6 BB, 22 K. Ayers (a 2021 draftee) is 24 years old.

Game 2 (Lost, 8-5)

SS Jared Serna: 1-for-2, 2B (7), 2 RS, 2 BB, SB (10), CS (2)
Serna has 28 doubles and 29 stolen bases between here and Tampa. Tomorrow is his last chance to reach 20 home runs. By the way, though it is widely assumed that Serna is a 2B long-term (60 starts there in 2023), he has 51 starts at shortstop. 
DH Alexander Vargas: 2-for-3, 2B (18), RBI, RS, BB
.206/.249/.345 in 441 PA. Vargas looked like he might be breaking out earlier this season but his final stat line is going to look quite similar to his 2022 line in Tampa.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-3, HR (3), 4 RBI, RS, BB, K
A grand slam for Rodriguez, who continues to hit. He is up to .365 (1.025 OPS) in 103 PA since his promotion and .312/.400/.454 in 454 plate appearances overall. Quite a season.
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, BB, K
3B Ben Cowles: 0-for-3, K
RF Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, 2 K
2B Luis Santos: 1-for-2, RS, BB, SB (10)
LF Kyle Battle: 0-for-3, K

RHP Baron Stuart: (L, 2-4) 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, HR
RHP Harrison Cohen: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
LHP Clay Aguilar: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K

Tampa (61-68; 30-33 in the second half) (Lost to Lakeland, 4-1)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 1-for-3, 2 BB, CS (2)
At this level: 7-for-29 (.241) with a double and eight walks (.405 OBP). Very small sample size in 2023, but Lombard doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed.
2B Brenny Escanio: 1-for-4, 2B (10), RS, BB, 2 K, SB (21)
.221/.333/.289 in 472 PA with 21 stolen bases in 27 attempts. 
1B Kiko Romero: 0-for-4, BB
DH Garrett Martin: 2-for-3, 2B (6), RBI, HBP
13-for-65 (.200) with six doubles and seven runs batted in. The Yankees placed the 23-year-old at this level immediately after signing him (undrafted signee)
CF Nelson Medina: 1-for-3, BB, K
LF Daury Arias: 1-for-4
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-4, K
3B Beau Brewer: 2-for-4
.280/.410/.293 in a weird 195 PA sample. Brewer (obviously) hasn’t hit for power (two doubles) but he has 35 walks (17.9%) while striking out 12 times.
C Manuel Palencia: 1-for-4

RHP Sebastian Keane: (L, 0-2)  3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
He threw 47 pitches tonight. He came out of the bullpen down in the FCL before two late starts here. This is essentially a get-your-feet-wet type of season. 
RHP Matt Keating: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
3.64 ERA in 64.1 IP (60 H, 32 R, 26 ER, 6 HR, 36 BB, 92 K). Keating doesn’t throw hard (his out pitch appears to be a slider, and he features it as much as he does the fastball)
LHP Geoffrey Gilbert: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
2.92 ERA in 49.1 IP (35 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 1 HR, 28 BB, 58 K). On pitch profile alone, he might just be the left-handed version of Keating. I will note that arsenals can change as players work their way through a system.
RHP Alex Bustamante: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Nolberto Henriquez: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
As I mentioned last time, Henriquez throws a lot of sinkers. Tonight, he averaged 95.4 MPH with that pitch – he is a bit of a project with uneven results, but I can imagine that the organization would like to work with someone who can throw a sinker in the mid-90s. We’ll see.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/8: Ben Rice Has a Big Night

News:

Nada. The season is almost over so nobody is making headlines.

Scranton (66-67; 32-27 in the second half) (Lost to Columbus, 10-5)

LF Estevan Florial: 2-for-5, 3 K, SB (25)
Estevan Florial, defined (OK, he isn’t going to hit .400…)
3B Jamie Westbrook: 3-for-4, 2B (18), HR (21), 2 RBI, RS, BB
Westbrook has done a solid job as the veteran utility guy down here. You need these types in your system.
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-5, 2 K
1B Andres Chaparro: 1-for-5, K
RF Franchy Cordero: 1-for-5, 2 K
DH Josh Breaux: 1-for-4, 2B (1), 2 RS, BB, 2 K
CF Brandon Lockridge: 2-for-4, 2B (9), RS, BB, 2 K
He will get an MLB shot at some point with some team – and I am intrigued to see what he does with it.
2B Wilmer Difo: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, HBP, K
SS Jesus Bastidas: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K

RHP Clayton Beeter: (L, 2-5) 4.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
At this level: 5.89 ERA in 55 IP (53 H, 37 R, 36 ER, 13 HR, 35 BB, 62 K). It is very hard to evaluate this performance, given the offense in the International League – but it still isn’t ideal. The walks are way too high.
LHP Anthony Misiewicz: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 2 HR
RHP Zac Houston: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Matt Bowman: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Michael Gomez: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Somerset (78-51; 36-25 in the second half) (Defeated Erie, 4-3, in 11 innings)

DH Trey Sweeney: 1-for-5, BB, K
1B Ben Rice: 4-for-5, 2 2B (12), 2 RBI, RS, BB, SB (7)
Rice walks it off with an RBI single in the 11th. This is his 4th 4-hit game this season and he is hitting .339/.399/.661 at this level (12 doubles, 14 HR, 44 RBI). What more is there to say? The question one needs to ask is where he fits in the Yankees’ plans.
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-3, 2 BB
Jones has his average up over .200 (.205; 8-for-39) since his promotion. He is 5-for-12 in his last three games. Can you see him in pinstripes next year? Well, you are seeing Jasson Dominguez this year, so don’t rule anything out. 
C Agustin Ramirez: 0-for-4, K
RF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 SB (21)
Dunham has 33 stolen bases in 40 attempts between here and Scranton.
2B Mickey Gasper: 1-for-3, HR (5), RBI, RS, BB, SB (7)
LF Grant Richardson: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K, SB (1)
SS Max Burt: 0-for-3, BB, K
3B Eduardo Torrealba: 0-for-3, 2 RS, BB, 2 K

RHP Blane Abeyta: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, HR
5.58 ERA (122.2 IP, 122 H, 79 R, 76 ER, 16 HR, 51 BB, 122 K)
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Danny Watson: 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
At this level: 1.64 ERA (38.1 IP, 18 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 5 HR, 16 BB, 43 K). Overall, he has an 82/25 K/BB in 62.2 IP. How much more development does he need? Perhaps nothing more than spring training games.
LHP Ryan Anderson: (W, 2-1) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (69-60; 30-33 in the second half) 

Their game against Jersey Shore was postponed. They will try to play two tomorrow.

Tampa (61-67; 30-32 in the second half) (Squeaked past Lakeland, 2-1)

SS George Lombard Jr.: 0-for-5, 3 K
This is the first time Lombard didn’t reach base in a professional game.
CF Jackson Castillo: 1-for-3, BB, K
Since promotion: 6-for-34 with a homer and five RBI.
3B Kiko Romero: 1-for-3, 2B (6), RS, HBP
.234/.368/.415 in 114 PA at this level. He has a 7-game hitting streak (8-for-22; 3 doubles, 2 HR) 
C Omar Martinez: 1-for-4, RBI
.251/.368/.447 in 440 PA (16 doubles, 1 triple, 18 HR, 71 RBI, 66 R, 67 BB, 110 K, 8-for-9 SB)
1B Josh Moylan: 1-for-4, K
DH Garrett Martin: 1-for-4, K
LF Nelson Medina: 1-for-4, HR (6), RBI, RS, K
Medina has homered in back-to-back games.
RF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-4, 4 K
2B Jose Colmenares: 1-for-3, BB

RHP Sean Hermann: (W, 7-6) 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR
They could bring him up for the High-A playoffs, but I think they will shut him down now. His season: 4.79 ERA in 112.2 IP (118 H, 69 R, 60 ER, 10 HR, 45 BB, 91 K). Hermann is known for inducing ground balls – if he can start missing more bats, there is big potential here. If not, nothing wrong with being a ground ball machine if that trend continues as he moves up.
RHP Luis Arejula: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
RHP Ocean Gabonia (S, 1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 9/6: Spencer Jones: 2 Hits, 3 SB

News:

SS Trey Sweeney was activated today for Somerset. IF Caleb Durbin, who left the game early the other day, was placed on the injured list.

Scranton (66-66; 32-26 in the second half) (Defeated Columbus, 6-0)

CF Estevan Florial: 2-for-4, 2 RS, BB
Florial has scored 78 runs this season. He has set personal bests in HR, RBI, and runs scored.
C Carlos Narvaez: 1-for-5, 2B (10), RBI, 3 K
I will keep saying it: Narvaez is an interesting Rule 5 guy this winter. They probably have to add Agustin Ramirez at this point. Will they protect Narvaez? Or look for a trade partner? 
3B Andres Chaparro: 2-for-5, HR (24), 2 RBI, RS
.252/.338/.462 in 532 PA (21 doubles, 2 triples, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 75 R, 60 BB, 109 K, 4-for-4 SB). He is on a 7-game hitting streak (11-for-30). The best way to describe Chaparro in 2023 is with one word: Productive.
DH Franchy Cordero: 0-for-4, RS, BB
2B Jamie Westbrook: 3-for-4, RS
The veteran is hitting .299 and has seven 3+ hit games this season. 
1B Mike Lamb: 1-for-2, RS, 2 BB
RF Michael Hermosillo: 0-for-4, 2 K
SS Wilmer Difo: 0-for-3, BB, K, CS (8)
LF Brandon Lockridge: 1-for-4, 2B (8), 2 RBI, K

RHP Zach McAllister: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
RHP Michael Gomez: (W, 2-5)  2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Zach Greene: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K
LHP Nick Ramirez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Somerset (77-50; 35-24 in the second half) (Defeated Erie, 5-4, in ten innings. They scored three in the tenth to pull off the win)

LF Elijah Dunham: 0-for-4, RS, BB, 2 K
DH Ben Rice: 1-for-5, RBI, RS, K
At this level: .323/.385/.652 in 182 PA.
C Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-5, RBI, K
Since promotion: .231/.286/.327 in 112 PA.
CF Spencer Jones: 2-for-5, RS, 3 SB (4)
Jones has 39 stolen bases in 48 attempts between here and Hudson Valley. This is his first professional 3+ stolen base effort and second multi-hit game since his promotion.
1B T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, 3 K
Rumfield with the walk-off RBI single.
2B Mickey Gasper: 0-for-3, RS, BB
RF Jeisson Rosario: 1-for-3, BB, 2 K
3B Max Burt: 1-for-3, SF, RBI, K, SB (16)
SS Eduardo Torrealba: 1-for-3, RBI, RS, BB, K

RHP Drew Thorpe: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, HR
Don’t get nervous as my guess is that they are managing his load down the stretch (he is up to 139.1 innings in his professional debut season). Can I say that for sure? Of course not – but it is a reasonable assumption. Anyway, Thorpe now has an 182/38 K/BB this season.
RHP Carlos Gomez: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
LHP Ryan Anderson: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
At this level: 1.13 ERA (20.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 21 K)
RHP Alex Mauricio: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, HR
RHP Danny Watson: (W, 4-0)  1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
Watson is up to 81 strikeouts in 60.1 IP between here and Hudson Valley. He will be in the 2024 bullpen mix. I don’t see why he would need a lot of time in Scranton.

Hudson Valley (69-59; 30-32 in the second half) (Lost to Jersey Shore, 2-0)

RF Anthony Hall: 2-for-4
Hall has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.
SS Jared Serna: 0-for-3, BB, K
Serna’s hitting streak is snapped at 14.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 1-for-4, K
Rodriguez has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.
2B Alexander Vargas: 0-for-4, 2 K
3B Ben Cowles: 0-for-3
LF Christopher Familia: 0-for-2, HBP, K
1B Rafael Flores: 0-for-3, K
DH Jared Wegner: 0-for-3, 3 K
CF Cole Gabrielson: 0-for-3, 3 K

RHP Yorlin Calderon: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K
A nice bounce-back effort for Calderon, who allowed four runs (three earned) in three innings pitched his last time out (his High-A debut)
RHP Anderson Munoz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: (L, 3-3): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
RHP Cole Ayers: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Tampa (60-66; 29-31 in the second half) (Lost to Lakeland, 6-2)

SS George Lombard, Jr.: 1-for-4, K, CS (1)
Lombard has reached base safely in all 13 of his professional games. Since his promotion: 6-for-21 (.286) with a double, four runs batted in, six walks, and six strikeouts.
DH Jackson Castillo: 0-for-2, RS, 2 BB, 2 K
1B Josh Moylan: 0-for-2, BB, HBP
.254/.393/.338 in 89 PA with a pair of home runs. The power hasn’t shown up, but it’s only 21 career games. 
C Omar Martinez: 0-for-3, BB
.253/.370/.453 in 432 PA. 
3B Kiko Romero: 1-for-2, HR (3), 2 RBI, RS, 2 BB
The 22-year-old left-handed bat is hitting .230/.368/.402 (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 14 R) in 106 PA at this level.
CF Nelson Medina: 1-for-4, K
RF Daury Arias: 0-for-3, BB, K
LF Tayler Aguilar: 0-for-3, BB, K
2B Beau Brewer: 1-for-3, K

LHP Pablo Mujica: (L, 0-1) 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Low-A debut for the 6’0″ 22-year-old. The Yankees chose Mujica in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft (which doesn’t mean he was a Triple-A player!)  He pitched to an 8.27 ERA in 20.2 IP down in the FCL.
RHP Matt Keating: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, HR
3.73 ERA (62.2 IP, 59 H, 32 R, 26 ER, 6 HR, 35 BB, 88 K). 
RHP Montana Semmel: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.

Yankees MILB 8/30: Ben Rice Goes Off

News:

It looked like it might be a slow news day.

Late this afternoon, Bryan Hoch announced that the Yankees are calling up Jasson Dominguez and Austin Wells.

When we woke up on July 7th, Dominguez was staring at a .198/.341/.343 triple slash with a 94 wRC+ and 28.7% K. Since then (not including today), he has hit .364/.433/.543 (163 wRC+) with a 17.8% K.

Dominguez has the potential to be a star. The ceiling is just as enormous now as it was when he was signed. Ceilings are hard to achieve, but Dominguez is someone every fan should be excited about. Even his 75% outcome is All-Star level.

I won’t lie and tell you that Wells has played at a high level in 2023. His .240/.333/.442 line isn’t going to dazzle you.  That said, he has the power profile to take advantage of the porch and draws his share of walks. In 188 games between 2022-2023, Wells has 41 doubles, 37 home runs, and 104 walks (12.5%) in 831 plate appearances. This is what the Yankees are hoping for – enough average to go along with power and walks. Not everyone has to be a top-of-the-order stud. If Wells develops into a 6th-7th hitter, you take it. The other question that needs answering is his future position. He is athletic enough to play left field, but the Yankees are playing other youngsters out there. First base is another option, though that does raise the offensive bar. For 2023, he will get his time behind the plate and we’ll see what happens.

Fans just need to be patient because it is unlikely we will see another Gary Sanchez level of explosion. It can happen, but you can’t count on that. The important thing for 2023 is the experience.

The Yankees have released RHP Spencer Howard. Howard, acquired for cash considerations at the deadline, was low on the 40-man roster totem pole He only pitched in three games for Scranton, allowing four runs in 3.1 innings.

“Why make this trade?”

The Yankees were taking a flyer on a former Top 30 prospect (as recent as 2021). When you have a 40-man roster opening, acquiring someone with a prospect pedigree isn’t a bad idea. No harm, no foul.

Scranton (63-63; 29-23 in the second half) (Lost to Rochester, 8-4)

Up to the second second-half title chase:
Worcester: 31-20 (Game not over)
Durham: 31-21
Lehigh Valley: 31-22
Scranton: 29-23

RF Estevan Florial: 1-for-5, HR (24), RBI, 2 RS, K, 2 SB (23)
.285/.384/.556 in 432 PA. This was his first home run since July 30th (he was out of action from August 2 – August 16)
LF Jasson Dominguez: 1-for-4, 2B (3), RS, BB, K, SB (3)
Dominguez has 40 stolen bases between here and Somerset. Overall stat line: .265/.377/.425 in 544 PA (22 doubles, 3 triples, 15 HR, 76 RBI, 89 R, 83 BB (15.3%), 133 K (24.4%), 40-for-48 SB). Last year, playing for Tampa, Hudson Valley, and Somerset, he hit .273/.375/.461 in 530 PA. I would have called you nuts back in June if you told me he was going to eventually approach his 2022 totals. Yet, here we are…
C Austin Wells: 0-for-4, K
Since promotion: .254/.349/.452 in 146 PA with ten doubles, five home runs and a 23.3% K.
1B Andres Chaparro: 1-for-5, RS, K
DH Franchy Cordero: 0-for-3, BB, K
3B Jamie Westbrook: 2-for-3, 2B (17), 2 RBI, K, SB (5)
3B Jake Lamb: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
SS Wilmer Difo: 0-for-2, 2 BB, K, SB (17)
CF Brandon Lockridge: 0-for-3, BB

LHP Edgar Barclay (L, 0-3): 4.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
He left the game with the bases loaded and all three runners ended up scoring. Furthermore, a big error was the lighted match that turned into an inferno. At this level, he owns a bloated 7.88 ERA in 24 innings. Again, it is so hard to get a good read on pitchers in Triple-A this season.
RHP Zach Greene: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
RHP Ron Marinaccio: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
LHP Nick Ramirez: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, HR
RHP Zac Houston: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Somerset (74-47; 32-21 in the second half) (Toyed with Portland, 13-6. They fell behind 5-2 and 6-3 before taking off)

LF Elijah Dunham: 3-for-5, 2B (11), 3 RS, BB, K, 2 SB (18)
Dunham has 23 doubles and 30 stolen bases between here and Scranton. I think he should take the place of Dominguez in Triple-A. 
C Ben Rice: 4-for-6, 2B (8), 2 HR (14), 5 RBI, 4 RS, SB (6)
Is this guy for real? Since his promotion, in a mere 34 games, he is hitting .343 with a 1.114 OPS (8 doubles, 14 HR, 41 RBI, 30 R, and 6 stolen bases).  It is kind of surprising that he is only on a 5-game hitting streak!
CF Spencer Jones: 1-for-4, HR (1), 4 RBI, 2 RS, 2 BB, 3 K, SB (1)
Jones takes care of his first Double-A homer (a grand slam!) and first Double-A stolen base on the same night. He is 3-for-11 since his promotion and has 28 doubles, 4 triples, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 36 stolen bases overall. I don’t know if he will be a stolen base machine in MLB, but his athleticism continues to shine in the minors. Rough edges to work out? Definitely. But the ceiling is tantalizing.
1B Agustin Ramirez: 1-for-5
3B Caleb Durbin: 1-for-3, RS, BB, HBP, CS (5)
Since returning from the IL: 14-for-41 (.341) with three walks and only two strikeouts. 
DH Josh Breaux: 2-for-5, RBI
2B Anthony Seigler: 0-for-4, BB, K
RF Grant Richardson: 1-for-5, RS, 4 K
SS Max Burt: 2-for-5, 2 RS, 2 K

RHP Richard Fitts: 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR
Fitts has been so good lately that we can toss this. As I have mentioned before, the one knock on him is that he sometimes loses his command within the strike zone. Tonight, he uncharacteristically allowed some walks. It happens. Season: 3.40 ERA (135 IP, 114 H, 52 R, 51 ER, 19 HR, 37 BB, 143 K). He is one of the few performing prospects who has stayed at one level all season. That is fine – just a random observation. He doesn’t ever need to step foot in Triple-A.
RHP Carlos Gomez: (W, 1-0)  2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
RHP Jack Neely: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Since promotion: 1.98 ERA (13.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 18 K). Overall, he has a 92/19 K/BB over 62.1 innings. He should be ready in 2024 – perhaps as early as Opening Day, though I wouldn’t bet money on it.
RHP Jesus Liranzo: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Hudson Valley (67-55; 28-28 in the second half) (Knocked off Wilmington, 9-3)

RF Anthony Hall: 1-for-4, RS, BB
SS Jared Serna: 2-for-5, 2B (4), RS, 2 K
Serna increases his hitting streak to nine. He is hitting .284 since his promotion. Serna has only five extra-base hits in 18 games at this level, but his season has been so good that we won’t worry about that. As long as he isn’t overwhelmed at a more advanced level, that is a win.
DH T.J. Rumfield: 1-for-4, 2B (1), RS, BB
Rumfield’s first rehab game. In Somerset earlier this season, he hit .224/.322/.463 with 17 home runs in 72 games. The power surge was unexpected. As for the average, his .218 BABIP may indicate some bad luck there.
C Jesus Rodriguez: 2-for-4, HR (2), SF, 3 RBI, RS, K
Rodriguez is hitting .359 (23-for-64) since his promotion (5 doubles, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 13 K). He has not stopped hitting all season.
2B Alexander Vargas: 1-for-5, RS, 2 K
3B Ben Cowles: 2-for-5, 2 RS, K
Cowles now has a 40-game on-base streak.
LF Christopher Familia: 1-for-4, RBI, RS
CF Cole Gabrielson: 2-for-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, RS
This is what you call making an impression in your High-A debut.
1B Rafael Flores: 2-for-4, RBI

LHP Brock Selvidge: (W, 3-1) 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
It was a grind tonight for Selvidge, but he kept the damage at bay. At this level: 3.96 in 38.2 IP (35 H, 18 R, 17 ER, 2 HR, 12 BB, 37 K). Overall, Selvidge (just turned 21) is up to 116 innings after tossing 42.2 innings in 2022. Will they let him finish out the season, or is the end near? There isn’t too much time left.
RHP Anderson Munoz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K
RHP Harrison Cohen: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
6 outs, all via strikeout! That works.

Tampa (57-63; 26-28 in the second half)

Their game against St. Lucie was canceled due to Hurricane Idalia. They hope to resume play on Thursday.

FCL Yankees (35-22; 1-2 in the playoffs)

They lost to the Braves in the championship series. Their season is over.

DSL Yankees (33-19)

Their season is over, as they missed the playoffs by a half-game.

DSL Bombers (27-26)

Their season is over.